SOLSTICE — An Exhibit of Abstract Watercolor and Mixed Media Assemblages at City Gallery
Featuring Work by Kathy Kane and Karen Wheeler
Celebrate the summer solstice with an exciting new show at City Gallery. Kathy Kane and Karen Wheeler present an exhibit of abstract watercolor landscapes and handmade paper and mixed media assemblages in SOLSTICE, on view from June 6 - June 29. The Opening Reception on Sunday, June 8, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., is open to the public.
For this show, City Gallery member Kathy Kane returns to her love of plein air painting, and leans hard into the vibrant possibilities of abstract watercolor, the power of the paint and its randomness. “My own garden has become my subject,” says Kane. “I tried for years to let it inform my art with little luck. This fall, I finally was able to find my rhythm within it. I make many small studies and then bring them to my studio to recreate the feeling and the images in a larger format.
There is a spontaneity to Kane’s new work, and it’s mirrored in the intuitive and unconstrained creativity in Karen Wheeler’s assemblages. Wheeler, who works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, handmade paper, and collage in both 2D and 3D, says, “Creating my work involves playful puzzle solving. My first moves with materials are often intuitive and spontaneous. I then study and respond to these visual clues to resolve the images to my satisfaction. I love engaging with the mystery as the work reveals itself in ways I could never have planned or predicted.”
For both artists, making art is about capturing, cultivating, and creating joy, which can be seen in the bold and colorful work on display at the gallery in June.
SOLSTICE is free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.
